Postharvest food loss remains one of the major food security challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa (Africa). In Tanzania, it is estimated that about 50 percent of fresh tomatoes perish before reaching consumers due to poor post-harvest management. The lack of cold storage facilities is one of the leading causes of massive post-harvest tomato losses, negatively affecting farmers' livelihoods and the sector's economic contribution. For small-scale farmers in off-grid locations, the adoption of solar-powered cold storage technologies has been found to be a potential solution for reducing losses of highly perishable crops such as tomatoes. However, in Tanzania, the deployment of Solar-powered Cold Storage Technologies (SPCSTs) is limited, leaving the vast majority of rural small-scale farmers without access to such facilities. This study examined barriers impeding the deployment and uptake of Solar-powered Cold Storage Technologies in Tanzania. Farmers' perceptions about SPCSTs and constraints limiting their deployment were examined through semi-structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) held between April and June 2021 in Kilolo district, Southeast Tanzania. Participants involved fifty-two (n = 52) small-scale tomato farmers and twenty-three (n = 23) experts and key informants from government and non-profit organizations that were purposively selected. The results show that the deployment of solar-powered cold storage technologies is constrained by limited awareness, high investment costs, low-paying capacity among farmers, and consumer preference for non-refrigerated foods. Addressing these barriers demand promoting policies and programs that attract and retain investment in cold storage technologies and improve SPCSTs affordability through flexible payment arrangements.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.